Fabricio Werdum Responds To UFC 196 Haters: Are You Happy With Your Life?

The UFC may be heading to Newark, New Jersey, for this weekend’s (Sat., January 30, 2016) UFC on FOX 18, but almost the entire focus of the collective MMA world is fixated on Cain Velasquez’s withdrawal from his UFC 196 heavyweight title rematch against current champion Fabricio Werdum on February 6 from Las Vegas.

The story goes that Velasquez pulled out of yet another title fight due a back injury, and rising No. 2 heavyweight Stipe Miocic was signed to replace the oft-injured former champion. It was a large blow to an already somewhat weak pay-per-view (PPV) card, but things only sank when Werdum withdrew from the short-notice bout the next day after claiming back and foot injuries of his own.

Disappointing yet understandable; however, things truly hit the proverbial fan when Werdum came out and admitted that he would have fought through the presumably nagging injuries if Velasquez were able to fight at the event. The puzzling statement not surprisingly elicited a rather negative backlash directed at Werdum, most of which was the to-be-expected belief that he was ‘scared’ and wasn’t willing to step up and save an event for his employers.

While there is certainly merit to both sides of the discussion, ultimately Werdum simply had too much at stake to risk in a short notice bout against a dangerous but largely unpopular champion, one where his PPV points weren’t likely to be all that good as a result. Whether you can accept Werdum’s points of view or not, the currently targeted champion spoke up in a detailed statement (courtesy of MMA Fighting) explaining his decision.

Hop to the next page to find out what Werdum thinks about his choice and his critics….

Werdum didn’t mince words, seeming to use the class of a champion in describing just why he couldn’t fight Miocic at less than one hundred percent. After 20 years of competing in world-class contests in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA, Werdum just couldn’t risk that, and believes his decision to be the ‘best one he’s ever made.’

He also finished by asking if the fans who jumped on him online with mean words are truly happy with themselves if they have to beat other people down behind a computer screen. Check it out:

I think it was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life not to fight Cain, Miocic or any other fighter because I had a back injury. Yet, at the same time I’m sad I wasn’t able to compete, I’m happy because I was able to see many things after this injury. I spent some time with my family, my wife and kids, and saw that everything is transitory.

Some people talked really bad about me, mean things, and other supported me as family and friends. I was thinking how cruel people can be when I was injured and I made a really important decision. The best decision I’ve ever made in my life. I’m criticized without suffering a defeat, and I imagined how it would be if I had fought for the fans, for the promotion, for anything, and suffered a defeat. But I didn’t suffer a defeat.

I decided not to fight because of my health, so I can recover and be 100 percent. Imagine if you’re remembered as that guy that suffered a severe injury, the guy that became paralyzed. Imagine that. How would people talk about me? Would those people care to know about me later, or only now that I’m the champion?

It was good in a way. Of course I’m upset I wasn’t able to fight, that I trained and did a strategy to fight Cain and this happened, but it was good that I didn’t suffer a defeat. I imagine (when) Anderson Silva (lost), when Jon Jones had issues with the justice and drugs, when Ronda (Rousey) lost and everyone went all over her. I didn’t even fight, and people were all over me, criticizing me. Everyone makes his own reality. The important is that you enjoy your family, your life. There’s no other option. That’s what matters the most.

At the same time, I say that was the best decision I’ve ever made because I can see who’s who, and who’s with me in the toughest hours. I wasn’t able to do what I love. I love to fight and train so I can go there and put on a show and interact with the fans. This glamour that the fight business has motivates me, but at the same time it unmotivated me.

I haven’t fought after training hard and dedicating with my team and all my coaches, and see this. I was able to see all this. How people are mean. Those people who criticize me have to look inside themselves, see how their lives are, and think about it. ‘I’m criticizing him, but how am I? Am I happy with myself? Am I happier when I’m criticizing the other?’

That’s what I had to say. I had to get this out of my chest. Again, that was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life, not to fight and think about myself.

‘Vai Cavalo’s’ response only furthers the debate between the school of thought that a true champion fighter should be ready to face and beat anyone in the world at anytime and his belief that his health, legacy, and career are on in the line in an uncertain fight that only saves one single event in the scheme of things.

Again, there are certainly valid points to both sides, and the opinions have ranged from Werdum being a dishonest, cherry-picking dodger to a scant few supporters, such as UFC heavyweight Josh Barnett, who seem to understand where he’s coming from.

Whatever side you’re on, Werdum certainly could have chose his words a bit wiser when he said he would fight Velasquez but not Miocic, because it does make him appear a bit scared even if that is not the case at all. For now, the UFC heavyweight title scene is extremely up in the air, which is unfortunately how it has been for more than the last two years.

Do you believe Werdum should have risked all that he has worked for, or do you see where he’s coming from with his decision to fight at another time?